Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Mind and Body / Coping with Pet Loss

March 10, 2017

Coping with Pet Loss

If you’ve ever lost a pet close to you, you understand the grief that surrounds a person or family when they are mourning the loss of their beloved pet. My daughter Allie recently lost her beloved guinea pig of 6½ years. She had Belle since Kindergarten and they were ‘snuggle buddies’ and great companions. When Belle died, my daughter grieved deeply… and is grieving still five months later. It’s important to understand the grief process and how it applies to any loss, even loss of a pet.

Of course if hurts. Don’t dismiss your grief because ‘it’s just a pet.’ Pets can be like family members and close companions. Allie felt guiltygirl and cat missing her guinea pig so much, but we reassured her it’s ok to grieve because Belle was deeply loved. The amount of grief a person experiences from losing a pet may depend in part on how significant that pet was in the person’s life.

Stages of grief. You may experience any or all of these stages of grief and there is no typical order. You may stay in one stage longer than another, and you may skip some stages all together.
Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.”
Anger: “This should not have happened at all!”
Bargaining: “I would do _____ to have this not happen.”
Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”
Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what happened.”
See HelpGuide for more information on the grieving process.

Coping with grief
• Time. There is no ‘normal’ for grieving… it’s a highly individualized process. Give yourself time to grieve and not on anyone’s timeline.
• Reach out to others. Has someone else lost a pet that would understand? They may be your best source of support.
• Rituals may help. Some people find it comforting to hold a funeral or service for their pet. Remember that it is for you, so do what seems right to you.
• Remember. It may be helpful to remember their pet in some way – a memory stone, a memory garden, a memory book, maybe a picture collage. Seek out ways to remember that will help you. The Humane Society of the United State has some tips on coping with grief.

girl with pet memorialChildren and pet loss
For many children, losing a pet is their first encounter with death and dying.
• Be honest. While it might be tempting to shield children from pain saying the pet just went to sleep or went elsewhere… be honest with your child and allow them time to grieve in their own way.
• Involve the child. Have the child help plan the memorial service or create a memory stone for their pet.
• Allow the child to say goodbye, especially if you have chosen to put the animal to sleep or you know that death is near.
• Reassure your child that he is not responsible for the pet’s death.
• Share your grief. Allowing your child to see you grieve can help validate their own feelings as well as help them see how you handle your grief.
• Children may experience grief in a different way. Encourage them to share their feelings and concerns with you. For more ideas on helping children, check out HelpGuide.

If you find that grief is impairing your normal functioning, please consider seeking professional help.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

WRITTEN BY: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

REVIEWED BY: Melinda Hill, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Wayne County

SOURCES:

  • “Coping With the Death of Your Pet,” The Humane Society of the United States. 2017
  • Robinson, L., Segal, J., Segal, R. “How to Cope with Losing a Pet.” HelpGuide. Feb. 2017
  • Smith, M., Robinson, L. and Segal, J. “Coping with Grief and Loss.” HelpGuide. Feb. 2017

Categories: Mind and Body
Tags: death, dying, loss, pets

Avatar for Shannon Carter
Avatar for Shannon Carter

About Shannon Carter

Shannon Carter, MS is an Extension Educator for Family and Consumer Sciences with Ohio State University Extension in Fairfield County. She is passionate about helping people “live smart” by sharing research-based information through programs and media. Her favorite topics include workplace wellness, mindfulness, youth wellness and food safety. She especially enjoys putting good information to personal use as a busy wife, mom, volunteer and full-time educator.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

pen and paper

A Day of Mini Mindfulness Practices

ten minute timer

Top Ten Tips for Practicing Mindfulness

Finding your path to wellness webinar series presented in Spring 2024

mug

Winter Slump to Winter Wake Up

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d